Thursday, January 10, 2013

Inaugural Trip Tips

Today's post is taken from http://www.washingtonian.com/blogs/capitalcomment/inauguration-2013/secret-service-dos-and-donts-for-inauguration-day.php and is in reference to the upcoming trip to the Inaugural Celebration sponsored by PA DeMolay. Keep this tips in mind if you plan on joining us!

The Secret Service this week issued a thorough and specific security plan for the 2013 inaugural activities spanning Sunday and Monday, January 20 and 21. Because the Department of Homeland Security has designated the inauguration a National Special Security Event (NSSE), the Secret Service is in charge of creating and implementing the plan. What that means is they are lead dog for the occasion, and everyone who plans to attend official inauguration events should read up on the basic dos and don’ts:

• Do not forget your ticket if you have been issued one from the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies to view the inauguration on the Capitol grounds. Tickets are distributed almost entirely through members of Congress. A ticket and valid ID are required to enter the Capitol grounds.

• Do take public transportation to the Capitol. If you are a ticketed guest, the recommended Metro exits are Capitol South, Eastern Market, Union Station, NoMa-Gallaudet U (New York Ave.), Judiciary Square, Gallery Place-Chinatown, Federal Center SW, and L’Enfant Plaza.

• Don’t plan to take Metro to these station stops, because they will be closed: Smithsonian, Archives, and Mt. Vernon Square.

• Don’t try to go to the Capitol grounds if you don’t have a ticket.

• Do, however, go to the National Mall if you don’t have a ticket. No ticket is required to view the ceremonies from the National Mall, an area that begins at Fourth Street, Northwest, and extends toward the Washington Monument. The entry points to this area are Constitution Avenue, Northwest, at Seventh, Ninth, and 12th streets, and Independence Avenue, Southwest, at 12th Street.

• Do be prepared for a security screening. They will definitely occur at the Capitol grounds for ticketed guests, and for the general public and ticketed guests entering the inaugural parade route, the area of the White House viewing stand, and the inaugural balls at the DC Convention Center.

• Do expect long lines for security screening.

• Don’t bring any of these items with you to the ticketed viewing areas of the Capitol grounds:

Aerosol sprays

Air horns

Alcoholic beverages

Animals (other than service animals)

Backpacks

Coolers

Duffel bags

Explosives of any kind (including fireworks)

Firearms and ammunition (either real or simulated)

Glass containers

Knives, blades, or sharp objects (of any length)

Large bags

Laser pointers

Mace and/or pepper spray

Packages

Pocket or hand tools, such as Leatherman tools

Portable chairs (other than those for disabled persons)

Posters

Signs

Sticks or poles

Strollers

Suitcases

Thermoses

Umbrellas

Other items that may pose a threat to the security of the event as determined by and at the discretion of the security screener

• Do note these security entry points for the inaugural parade. They open at 6:30 AM on Monday, January 21:

• Don’t bring any of these items with you to the inaugural parade route, the area of the White House viewing stand, or the inaugural balls:

Aerosols

Ammunition

Animals other than helper/guide dogs

Backpacks

Bags and signs exceeding size restrictions (8-by-6-by-4 inches)

Bicycles

Balloons

Coolers

Explosives

Firearms

Glass or thermal containers

Laser pointers

Mace/pepper spray

Packages

Structures

Supports for signs and placards

Weapons of any kind

Any other items determined to be potential safety hazards

• Do bring signs and placards to the inaugural parade, if you care to, but do make sure they are made only of cardboard, posterboard, or cloth and have dimensions of no more than 3 feet wide, 20 feet long, and one quarter inch thick. If you don’t meet this requirement, your placard will be taken away from you and not returned.

• Do not expect to debate the merits of these rules with any person handling a security checkpoint or screening area. They don’t take kindly to those kinds of debates, and you won’t win.

Our advice: For the inaugural ceremonies and parade, dress warmly with a hat, gloves, and comfortable shoes, and pack very light—be sure to have ID, tickets, some money and credit cards, your Metro card if you have one, a fully charged phone, your glasses, and your patience. For the balls, dress festively but comfortably, still pack light, remember ID, tickets, money, and, if relevant, where you parked the car or the phone number of your hired driver.